Chapter 305: How to Deal with You
The spring sun was brilliant.
Chu Yi felt warm in his court robes. After removing them, he was left in a black brocade garment that fully revealed his sharp and imposing presence.
Er Momo stood before him and said, "This old servant sought a favor from the Princess Consort, requesting to leave the manor for retirement. The Princess Consort has granted permission."
Only then did Chu Yi pause his steps.
Although the arson from last night had been investigated and clarified, he knew in his heart that it was somewhat related to Er Momo.
Er Momo had raised him and was his elder. He had drunk her milk as a child and could not bring himself to banish her outright.
After concluding court affairs today, he had deliberately gone to the Everlasting Autumn Palace to ask his mother to arrange a good retirement for Er Momo, as a way of honoring their years of affection.
He had not expected Er Momo to take the initiative to leave on her own.
He nodded. "Very well. If you have a particular estate in mind, I will have it arranged for you."
Er Momo pressed her lips together.
She had watched the prince grow up. He had always respected her like this, allowing her to choose first whenever fine items arrived from the palace.
But after the Princess Consort married into the household, everything changed.
She spoke slowly, "Before leaving the manor, this old servant has something to say, though I'm unsure if it's appropriate."
Chu Yi had no patience for such talk. He only wished to hurry to the main courtyard to see Yun Chu and said coldly, "If it's inappropriate, then there's no need to say it."
Er Momo choked back her words, took a deep breath, and said, "They say honest advice is hard to take. Even if it's inappropriate, this old servant must speak. Just now, I saw the study companion the Princess Consort hired for the Little Commandery Princess. It seems to be Miss Xie, the daughter from her former husband's family. The Xie family is long gone, and that Miss Xie is nothing but a commoner. To have a commoner serve as the Commandery Princess's study companion—if word gets out, who knows how others will mock the Commandery Princess... This old servant doesn't know whether the Princess Consort's action is meant to belittle the Commandery Princess or if she still harbors feelings for her former Xie family..."
"Audacity!"
Chu Yi's voice, already cold, now turned icy. The two words struck Er Momo's brow like shards of frozen ice.
This was the first time she had felt such pressure from Prince Pingxi.
Her body trembled, but she forced herself to stand firm and said, "This old servant only has the prince and the Commandery Princess's best interests at heart. I meant no harm..."
Chu Yi's eyes were like frozen pools.
To save Er Momo from disgrace, he had deliberately gone to the Everlasting Autumn Palace to ask his mother to intervene.
He had even considered giving her the best estate under his name for her retirement.
He was willing to grant Er Momo every honor.
But she had disappointed him deeply.
"Have I not told you that as a member of the inner household, the Princess Consort is your master?" Chu Yi enunciated each word clearly. "Everything you do, every word you speak, should first consider the Princess Consort's interests. You maliciously speculate about the Princess Consort—that is your first offense. You question the Princess Consort's actions—that is your second. You sow discord between me and the Princess Consort—that is your third. With three offenses to your name, how do you think I should deal with you?"
Er Momo's legs shook uncontrollably.
She did not understand why the prince was so enraged when she had only spoken the truth.
"My fief is in Luochuan. You shall retire there."
As soon as Chu Yi finished speaking, Er Momo's legs gave way, and she collapsed to the ground.
Luochuan—so far from the capital. Once she went there, she would never return to the capital.
She and her family would hardly ever see each other again...
"My residence in Luochuan is no different from the Prince of Pacifying the West Manor. You will not suffer there. Depart in three days."Chu Yi strode towards the main courtyard.
Er Momo completely broke down.
Since she was already leaving, why had she said those words and angered the prince? Now her remaining retirement days would be plagued with unease.
Scrambling up from the ground, she stumbled and rushed towards the main courtyard.
Chu Yi had just taken a seat in the main courtyard, beside Yun Chu, with two children also in the room.
Xie Xian had been happily playing cat's cradle with Changsheng, but the moment Chu Yi entered, her whole body began to tremble, her small face visibly paling.
Chu Changsheng turned her head and pouted, "Father, could you step outside for a moment?"
Chu Yi was puzzled. "Why?"
"Xian and I are playing," Chu Changsheng said. "Mother needs to review the account books. Father, you're... unnecessary."
Chu Yi: "..."
Well, well. He had actually become the unnecessary one.
Fearing that Chu Yi's anger would only heighten her own terror, Xie Xian quickly tugged at Chu Changsheng's arm. "Changsheng, l-let's go play outside."
Not daring to even glance at Chu Yi, she dashed out of the flower hall, with Chu Changsheng following close behind.
Chu Yi frowned. "Chu'er, do I look that frightening?"
Yun Chu reached out, smoothing the wrinkles on his forehead, then pinched the flesh on his cheeks and lifted them slightly. "If you smiled more often, the children wouldn't be afraid of you."
A smile touched the corners of Chu Yi's lips.
He was just about to lift Yun Chu onto his lap when Er Momo's voice came from the doorway. "This old servant pays respects to the Princess Consort. I beg the Princess Consort to persuade His Highness to let me remain in the capital."
Yun Chu looked at Chu Yi, her eyes questioning what had happened.
Chu Yi said indifferently, "There's no need for you to concern yourself with this matter, Chu'er."
"It was this old servant's fault, a grave mistake!" Er Momo knelt before Yun Chu. "I was wrong to doubt the Princess Consort, wrong to contend for authority with you, wrong to sow discord between His Highness and the Princess Consort. Even if I have a thousand faults, I do not deserve the punishment of being separated from my family forever... His Highness was raised on this old servant's milk, yet my own son was fed only rice porridge. Because he wasn't properly nourished in childhood, he remains frail and thin even now in his twenties..."
Er Momo wept bitterly, tears and mucus streaming down her face.
Yun Chu roughly understood the situation.
Because Er Momo had spoken ill of her before Chu Yi, he had flown into a rage and ordered Er Momo to retire in Luochuan.
Luochuan was separated from the capital by many cities—a journey of at least half a month by carriage. Once she went, it would be difficult to return.
And all of Er Momo's children and grandchildren were in the capital.
Meaning, if she left, she would likely never see them again in this lifetime.
At an age when she should be surrounded by children and grandchildren, how could she bear such separation from her family...
Yun Chu looked at Chu Yi. "Your Highness, Er Momo knows she was wrong."
Chu Yi's voice remained cold. "This prince's decisions are never reversed."
Yun Chu tilted her head. "Could you make an exception for my sake?"
Chu Yi's tone softened considerably. "For Chu'er's sake, of course I must."
Er Momo smiled bitterly.
Why hadn't she realized the weight the Princess Consort held in the prince's heart?
She had brought this upon herself entirely through her own actions.
"What about Desheng Manor?" Yun Chu suggested. "It's only a day's journey from the capital—not too far."
Er Momo hurriedly knelt again. "Thank you for your grace, Princess Consort..."
Yun Chu smiled and instructed Ting Xue to help Er Momo pack her belongings.
Er Momo was Chu Yi's wet nurse. If outsiders learned that Chu Yi had banished her to the fiefdom, it could easily lead to impeachment by the Censorate.It's just a minor matter, no need to bring it before the court.
Moreover, Er Momo has children and grandchildren. No matter what happens, it's impossible for things to turn ugly.
Letting Er Momo live out her remaining years in peace preserves everyone's dignity - there's nothing wrong with that.
OpenNovel